Clashes continue to rock cities around Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The South Sulawesi town of Pinrang was rocked by
\nclashes on Tuesday, while Surabaya in East Java and Dili in East
\nTimor witnessed sporadic outbreaks of looting.<\/p>\n
The North Sumatra capital of Medan also remained crippled due
\nto an ongoing massive strike by public transportation drivers
\nthat started the day before.<\/p>\n
As many as 5,000 people alleging they had been cheated by a
\nlocal cooperative in Pinrang became involved in clashes with
\nsecurity forces preventing them from forcing their way into the
\ninstitution's office.<\/p>\n
The angered mob, clustered in several groups, pelted stones at
\nthe security personnel, many of whom threw stones back. No
\ncasualties were reported in the incident.<\/p>\n
The crowds finally dispersed after troops fired warning shots
\ninto the air.<\/p>\n
Security forces foiled one group's attempt to burn down the
\nofficial residence of Pinrang Regent Firdaus Amrullah.<\/p>\n
In the days leading up to Tuesday's violence, many residents
\ndeserted the town to seek shelter in nearby areas following
\nthreats by the cooperative's customers that they would completely
\nraze the town if the cooperative failed to return their money by
\nSept. 15.<\/p>\n
More than 900 riot police, troops and youths armed with sticks
\nand knives were put on guard in strategic places in the town.
\nThey seized hundreds of knives and other sharp weapons from
\npeople entering the town to prevent possible clashes between
\nnative residents and visitors.<\/p>\n
Amran, one of the cooperative's customers, said he and many
\nothers had become angry after the cooperative's owner failed to
\nkeep his promise.<\/p>\n
\"We had been deceived and led to believe that the cooperative
\nwas backed by the local administration (so it would be able to
\nrepay us),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The cooperative was said to be have been operating illegally,
\npromising to return a deposit of Rp 10 million (US$900), for
\ninstance, with enough interest for the customer to buy a used car
\nin good condition.<\/p>\n
Massive strike<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Medan on Tuesday was still paralyzed by an ongoing
\nmassive strike by public transportation drivers protesting the
\nskyrocketing prices of basic commodities and vehicle spare parts.<\/p>\n
School children, housewives and employees had to walk to their
\ndestinations or scrambled to get on board the few minivans that
\ndared to operate. Some police and military trucks were seen
\ntransporting residents along some thoroughfares, such as Jl. M.
\nYamin, Jl. Jamin Ginting and Jl. Gatot Subroto.<\/p>\n
Many youths took to the streets and stopped whatever buses
\nwere still operating, asking the drivers to stop working and join
\nthe strike.<\/p>\n
A proprietor of a bus company, asking for anonymity, said his
\nfour buses were still parked in front of his house because their
\ndrivers continued their strike, which is planned through
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
On Monday, striking drivers vandalized a number of properties,
\nwhile a group of people took advantage of the chaotic situation
\nby attacking and looting a shopping center.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of police were still
\ndeployed in strategic places throughout the city in anticipation
\nof possible riots.<\/p>\n
Col. Nono Supriyono, chief of the Medan municipal police, said
\npolice had questioned 85 people involved in the vandalism and
\nlooting that hit the city on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Of the 85, 69 have been released while the remaining 16 were
\ndetained for further investigation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, Governor Imam Utomo condemned the
\nsporadic looting by groups of people in several areas of the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"The lootings cannot be tolerated, even if the reason was
\neconomic hardship. All crimes must be investigated thoroughly,\"
\nhe said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He warned that authorities would take strict action against
\nall those involved in the recent looting of teakwood, shrimp
\nponds, cocoa and coffee plantations in the province.<\/p>\n
More than 100,800 teak trees have been illegally felled by
\npeople living near some forests, causing Rp 11 billion in
\nmaterial losses to the state-owned Perhutani.<\/p>\n
Surabaya police have arrested two Navy officers caught red-
\nhanded transporting looted teak logs.<\/p>\n
The two, first sergeant AGJ and first sergeant YP, were caught
\nwhile entering the city in a truck.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people in Dili, East Timor, looted 1.5 metric tons
\nof rice from a government warehouse late Monday.<\/p>\n
Deputy chief of the Dili Police, Maj. Mangatas Tambunan, said
\npolice were still investigating the incident and could not yet
\nprovide any details.<\/p>\n
But witnesses said the looters raided the warehouse because
\nthey could no longer afford to buy rice.<\/p>\n
Security personnel arrived on the scene before the warehouse
\nwas cleaned out.<\/p>\n
\"If the security personnel had not arrived then, the whole
\nstock of rice in the warehouse would have been gone by now,\" said
\na local resident who refused to be named. (21\/30\/nur\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/clashes-continue-to-rock-cities-around-indonesia-1447893297",
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